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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. D THAOKSTON. SELF CLOSING HATGHWAY. No. 274,844, Paten edmarrzv, 1883.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet2.

R. D; THAGK'STON SELF CLOSING EATGHWAY. No. 274,844. Pa-tented--Mar,27.188B.

N PETERS, PholvLflhagnpher Washmgmn D c UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

, RICHARD D. THAOKSTON, OF sir. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF ing the doors by one corner to the uprights of with suitable cams on the elevator-cage for cage, in a circle, requiring much less power cage E, to open the doors on the ascent of the t the elevator, and O the hatchway. The hatch- TO HENRY I. OOE,

OF SAME PLACE.

SELF-CLOSING HATCHWAY.

sPEcIFIcArIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 274,844, dated March 27, 1883.

' Application filed November 20, 1882, (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be itknown that I, RICHARD D. THAGKSTON, of the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Self Closing Hatchways, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accom panying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which--- Figure 1 is a top view of the doors. 'Fig. 2 is a vertical section, showing the cage in side elevation. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view, illustrating a manner of forcing the doors shut after they have been opened by the cage. Fig. 4 is an enlargeddetail perspective view, showing one of the leaves or flaps for closing the space between the doors propen. Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the cage, illustrating a. form of cams for opening the doors.

-My invention relates to hatchway doors which are self closing, for elevators; and my invention consists, broadly, in hinging or pivotthe elevator, or to the floor of the building, or to any other suitable object, in combination forcing the doors open, and suitable means for forcing the doors shut after the cage has passed, as more fully described hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings,A represents part of a floor of a building; B B, the uprights of way is provided with doors D D, which are hinged or pivoted at D tothe uprights B, respectively, or they may be hinged to the floor A, or to any other suitable object. The doors,

forced. upouby suitable cams secured to the than is necessary to open either verticallymoving doors or horizontally-moving doors where they have to be'moved bodily. .The open position of thedoors is shown by dotted lines, Fig. l.

E E are cams secured to the topof the cage; and E F. are similar cams, secured to the bottom of the cage, to open the doorson the descent of the cage. The' cams extend from the center of the cage to the outer cor- 5o ners, or near the corners, the lower ends of the upper cams being secured to posts E E which hold the doors open as the cage passes through the hatchway. The doors are provided with friction-rollers F F, (see Fig. 1,) 5 5 against which the cams strike-and bear in opening the doors, and in fast-running elevators these rollers may have springs placed behind them, if desired. When the cage has passed the doors are closed by any suitable means. I have shown common door-springs G. 1 have shown the doors on top of the floor,

but they may be placed beneath it; and lhave shown them hinged to opposite sides of the hatch way, but they may be hinged to the same 6 side, the cams'on the cage, of course, being located to suit.

When the doors are closed there is necessarily a space between them on account of the uprights B B. This space I close by means of leaves or flaps H H, hinged to the doors, so as .to be inclinedwhen closed, as shown in Fig.

3. 1 As the cage approaches the floor the cams first open these leaves upward, which clears them from the uprights B B, and then the '75 cams come in contact with and swing the doors open. The wings preferably have frictionrollers I secured to the upper ends of springarms J, (see Fig. 4,) against which the cams would bear. The leaves are held closed by means of suitable springs, K, when not pressed open by the cams.

.One of these improved doors may be used with a door of common construction, and in that case the common door could cover the cams on the elevator-cage, and a suitable 5. In a self-closin g hatohway, the combinai0 means for forcing the door or doors shut after tion of hinged doors D, hinged leaves H, prothe cage has passed, substantially as set forth. Vided with springs K and rollers I on arms J,

4. In a self-closing hatchway, the combinasprings G and cams E and E and posts E on -tion, with the doors hinged or pivoted at one the cage E, all substantially as set forth.

corner, of the hinged wings or flaps, provided I RICHARD D. THAGKSTON. with suitable springs to hold them shut except Witnesses:

when opened by the cams on the cage, sub- SAML. KNIGHT,

stantially as set forth. GEO. H. KNIGHT. 

